Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

101. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when flood defence construction works will advance in the upper River Lee area for Inchigeelagh, Ballingeary and Ballyvourney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10537/23]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá mé ag éileamh ar an Aire Stáit tuairisc a thabhairt ar an obair atá idir lámha aige chun cosaint a thabhairt do phobal Bhaile Bhuirne, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh, Inse Geimhleach agus Baile Mhic Íre ó na tuilte. Is cúis buartha é do phobal go mbeadh baol ann ón tuile. Tá obair planned le fada. Will the Minister of State give us an overview of the planned works in the upper River Lee, the River Sullane, Ballyvourney, Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ta Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí, i gcomhpháirtíocht le Comhairle Contae Chorcaí, ag dul i ngleic go réamhghníomhaíoch leis an rogha is fearr a chur chun cinn le haghaidh scéim faoisimh thuilte inmharthana do Bhaile Bhuirne agus Baile Mhic Íre, a chosnóidh 90 réadmhaoin ó riosca suntasach ó thuilte. Cork County Council, which will act as the lead authority for the scheme, is currently engaging with the Office of Public Works to define the scope of the consultancy brief, after which the procurement of a consultant will follow. I was glad to have the opportunity to visit these communities with Deputy Moynihan recently.

In the interim, Cork County Council has been approved funding of €187,248 in October 2018, under the OPW’s minor works scheme. This funding is for the provision of temporary flood defence measures, including sand-bag defence structures and raising the ground level.

Malachy Walsh and Partners, MWP, consulting engineers, have been commissioned by Cork County Council to complete the design of the interim flood relief measures in Ballyvourney. This work is now well under way and a detailed design is expected to be completed by the end of quarter 1 of this year, with the intention of going to tender for construction shortly thereafter. The proposed flood relief scheme at Ballingeary is in tranche 2. It will be progressed at a projected cost of approximately €3.1 million and will be revised during the options development stage. The proposed scheme consists of flood walls and embankments and will protect 46 properties when completed.

The proposed flood relief scheme at Inchigeelagh is also in tranche 2. It will be progressed at a projected cost of more than €2.5 million and will be revised during the options development stage. The proposed scheme consists of flood walls and embankments and will protect 28 properties when completed.

Once consultants are appointed to progress these schemes, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the general public, will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have an opportunity to input into the development of the schemes. These schemes will be funded from the Government's allocation of €1.3 billion to our Department up to 2030. The most immediate issue is the reports that are due back from MWP, which will hopefully allow, in the Ballyvourney case, progress to be made this year and beyond.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Works on the River Sullane have been planned for a number of years. There was an exhibition in the Abbey Hotel. I acknowledge that quite a bit of background work is being done, between surveys and reports. However, there is a struggle to get temporary works carried out in the area. The OPW has handed over the lead role to Cork County Council. What prompted that move? Tá an-chuid oibre déanta le fada an lá ag tabhairt le chéile tuairiscí agus go leor eile chun an plean seo a thabhairt chun cinn i gcomhair an tSuláin agus cosaint a thabhairt do phobal Bhaile Bhuirne. Is ábhar buartha é nach bhfuil aon rud le feiceáil fós ar an láthair, fiú obair shealadach. Tuigim go bhfuil an chomhairle contae ag tógáil róil cheannasaigh maidir leis an togra seo. An bhféadfadh leis an Aire Stáit soiléiriú dúinn cén fáth go bhfuil an OPW ag seasamh siar agus go bhfuil an chomhairle contae ag tógáil an ról ceannaireachta sin?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Níl an OPW ag seasamh siar in aon chor. It would not be unusual for us to appoint local authorities as the lead agents in some schemes and for us to be the lead agents in other areas. In County Limerick, which is my home area, Limerick City and County Council is the lead authority for a number of the schemes we are developing. The OPW leads in some cases. It is not the case that we are stepping backwards.

With regard to the wider issue the Deputy raises, reports must be produced on schemes and consultation on and examination of schemes are required to ensure they fulfil the criteria, especially around the environmental regulations. This is a sensitive area ad the rivers in question are especially sensitive, as the Deputy knows better than I do. We wish to make sure Cork County Council has the necessary documentation ready to proceed to develop a scheme and that it will succeed. In the absence of that, I should say there is nothing stopping the council bringing forward interim measures, especially in the villages that have been identified by Deputy Moynihan in Cork north west, if it wishes to do so. The OPW always has an open mind about the supports that are available to the local authorities, in the absence of a completed scheme. We will work with the council on that basis.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ballingeary has suffered flooding from both the Lee and Bunsheelin rivers over many years. When they flood it impacts on householders, businesses and the road, but also the defective sewage treatment plant, which results in flooding in amenity areas such as football pitches. Has that been factored in to the case for promoting or pressing forward a scheme in Ballingeary?

I understand temporary works, including the removal of gravel from the river and clearing of vegetation, were carried out a number of years ago. While that is useful, it is only a temporary measure and the vegetation will grow back again. Tá géarghá go mbrúfaí ar aghaidh le córas Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh chomh maith. An gcuirtear san áireamh go bhfuil éifeachtacht an chórais séarachais lochtach chomh maith, agus go gcuireann sé sin isteach go mór ar chúrsaí sa dhúthaigh? Tá gá le go mbrúfar ar aghaidh leis na scéimeanna seo. An féidir leis an Aire Stáit tuairisc a thabhairt ar na hiarrachtaí i gcomhair Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh? Bheinn buíoch as sin.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is right with regard to households and the impact flooding has on businesses and amenities. The day I visited with the Deputy, I saw first-hand the impact it could have on communities. These communities are leading through a bottom-up approach. They are being supported in no small way by Údarás na Gaeltachta, chomh maith le Roinn na Gaeltachta a bhí in aonach linn nuair a bhíomar ann cúpla seachtain ó shin. The Deputy is right. Any of the temporary measures taken, by their nature, are temporary. We have to look at providing much longer term protection for properties. The degree to which water levels have risen in the River Lee catchment area, and the tributaries flowing into it, will be taken into account by Cork County Council.

The Deputy raised the issue of sewage treatment works, which is an asset of Irish Water. I will revert to him on that by email or in writing.